Governance

Dr David Chehade - Public Officer, Co-Chair, Treasurer

David serves as the Treasurer of the Dara School Board. Beyond his role at Dara, David is a highly experienced leader with a strong background in business operations, governance, and strategic management. Currently serving as Head of Operations at Southern Vales Christian College, David has played a pivotal role in financial planning, change management, and infrastructure development across multiple campuses. His expertise in financial oversight, resource allocation, and strategic growth has led to significant cost savings and increased capacity within the education sector.
With a career spanning leadership roles in education, local government, the not-for-profit sector, and corporate management, David has successfully driven capital projects, secured major funding grants, and implemented long-term strategic plans. His extensive governance experience includes board membership, legal advisory roles, and human resource leadership.

Gerry Facenna KC - Co-Chair

Gerry has had a 25-year career as a barrister in London, advising and acting for the UK government, businesses, regulators and private clients in courts and tribunals in the UK and the European Union. His areas of specialism include administrative law and judicial review, civil liberties, competition law, consumer law, regulatory lawand privacy / data protection. He is a member of the Bar in England and Wales, the Faculty of Advocates in Scotland and the Bar of Ireland and has degrees from Cambridge University and Edinburgh University, and a postgraduate diploma from City, University of London. Gerry is accredited as a Mediator by the Australian Disputes Centre, is an experienced non-executive director in the UK, and a Graduate of the Australian Institute of Company Directors (GAICD). He has lived in South Australia with his family since 2020 and all three of his children have attended Dara.

Kate Roff - Acting Secretary

Originally hailing from Western Australia, Kate Roff conducts research and lectures at the University of Adelaide, focusing on media studies and solutions journalism. She has over 20 years of experience in media in Australia, New Zealand, Costa Rica, and most recently Detroit, USA. She completed her Masters in Political Science at the University of Canterbury, and was an advisor to the U.S. Ambassador to New Zealand during the Obama administration. Kate has taught at high schools and universities, and she brings to the board her media and communication knowledge, a passion for inclusive pedagogy, and her experience as a long-time community member of The Roeper School, a renowned gifted school in Michigan. She will tell you, however, that her most humbling lessons have come from raising two gifted and neuro-spicy children, who both attend Dara.

Simon Hayes

With more than 15 years’ experience working with the Chief Financial Officers of multinationals in multiple countries, Simon is an experienced strategy advisor and leadership consultant. Based in Singapore and Adelaide, Simon leverages his extensive network in business, finance, policymaking, defence and diplomacy to enable client success.
Simon is a Trustee of the Royal Society for Asian Affairs, London, a Fellow of St George’s House, Windsor Castle, a Member of the Adjudication Panel of the Australian Press Council, and a Non-Executive Director of Dara School. His prior roles include strategy consulting and journalism. He is a member of the UK Institute of Directors and the Australian Institute of Company Directors.

Jae Yup Jung

Professor Jae Yup Jung, PhD, is the Director of the Gifted Education Research, Resource and Information Centre at The University of New South Wales. His research program, which incorporates various topics relating to gifted adolescents (with a particular focus on their education and career-related decisions) has been published or presented on more than 100 occasions in the form of journal articles, book chapters, editorials, conference presentations or books. He is the current editor of the Australasian Journal of Gifted Education, Vice President of the Asia-Pacific Federation on Giftedness, and President of the Australian Association for the Education of the Gifted and Talented. He has also taught and advised several Dara educators during their university studies.

Dr James Hafner

Dr James Hafner is a Senior Specialist Anaesthetist and long-time Dara parent. James holds a Bachelor of Medicine, Bachelor of Surgery (MBBS), and is a fellow of the Australia and New Zealand College of Anaesthetists (FANZCA). A highly regarded member of the Dara community, James brings excellent interpersonal connections with both the parent and teaching bodies of Dara to the Board, as well as experience in leadership and previous school board experience. His roots in Adelaide, deep knowledge of the city’s many communities, and wide networks, contribute to his robust cultural and contextual knowledge. James is passionate about stakeholder engagement, inclusion, and gifted education.

Joanna Anderson

Associate Professor Joanna Anderson is the Associate Head of School Teaching & Learning, Adelaide University, and a member of the UNITWIN/UNESCO Network on Teacher Education for Social Justice and Diversity in Education, where she leads the Inclusive Education sub-theme group. With expertise in inclusive education, student behaviour and wellbeing, and school leadership, Joanna teaches at both undergraduate and postgraduate levels. Joanna has significant experience in project management and stakeholder collaboration, having led multiple state and national initiatives, including a large project with the Victorian Department of Education to support gifted students at school. Joanna spent over 20 years as a teacher, middle leader, and principal, including in complex school settings, supporting students with diverse and complex needs.

Shadan Doyle

Shadan Doyle brings to the Board a unique blend of legal, governance, and human resource expertise developed across both the private and not-for-profit sectors. As a practising solicitor admitted in the Supreme Court of South Australia and the High Court of Australia, she offers strong analytical and advocacy skills, experience in dispute resolution, and a sound understanding of regulatory and compliance frameworks. Her earlier career in senior HR and industrial relations leadership roles means she also contributes strategic insight into organisational change, workforce management, and risk mitigation. Shadan is currently a Board Member on the Australian Refugee Association, and a proud Dara parent.